plural Lao or Laos ˈlau̇z How to pronounce Lao (audio)
1
: a member of a Buddhist people living in Laos and adjacent parts of northeastern Thailand
2
: the Tai language of the Lao people
Lao adjective

Examples of Lao in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Its owners have shifted their attention to their newest venture, Pha Khao Lao Cuisine inside Monarch Market food hall. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024 So far, Luc’s bent-toed gecko has only been found at one site in Lao Cai Province, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 There are a few seats at Soul Lao, but the real move is to bring your food to the attached brewery, Wandering Leaf Brewing. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024 Cindy Lao’s line dance was destroyed by gunfire a year ago, but her spirit wasn’t. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2024 In the summer of 2009, a few months after the birth of his son, Ai Lao, with filmmaker Wang Fen, Ai’s blog went dark, officially taken offline by Chinese authorities. Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024 The one that everybody knows that is available just about any Asian grocery store is called Lao Gan Ma. Michael Calore, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2023 While the cuisines share many of the same ingredients, Lao food is neither as sweet or sour as Thai, more reliant on fresh herbs and not as heavy. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 According to Lao Tzu, to name something is to limit it, to cut it off from the eternal. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Lao.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Lao was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near Lao

Cite this Entry

“Lao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lao. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Lao

noun
plural Lao or Laos
1
: a member of a people living in Laos and northeastern Thailand
2
: the language of the Lao people which is closely related to Thai
Lao adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Lao

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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